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Drug testing trial still not running in Vic police

AM - Monday, 4 June , 2007 08:21:00

Reporter: Daniel Hoare

TONY EASTLEY: Most Victorians would assume that if a police officer shoots someone dead, they'd be subject to drug or alcohol testing. But not so.

Victoria's police force remains one of the few in the world whose members don't face any testing for drugs or alcohol, despite the Police Commissioner agreeing five years ago to introduce a testing trial.

Here's AM's Daniel Hoare.

DANIEL HOARE: It's hard to believe that police officers who carry guns and batons aren't subject to any drug or alcohol testing whatsoever.

But in Victoria, where the police union is often said to be more powerful than the Chief Commissioner, it becomes a little easier to understand.

Victoria's Police Association wields so much power through its certified workplace agreement that it can legally prevent both the Police Minister and the Chief Commissioner from introducing random drug tests.

The Police Association's boss, Paul Mullett, says he's not opposed to the introduction of a drug testing trial, but that wouldn't involve any random tests.

He says a proposal for a pilot trial of some drug tests, including critical incident testing, where an officer injures a person, was signed off between the union and the police force five years ago.

But Paul Mullett says neither the Bracks Government nor the Police Commissioner has acted to introduce the drug testing trial.

PAUL MULLETT: We had a negotiated position, an agreed position back in 2002. The Victoria Police Force sat on its hands and didn't get the legislative change.

DANIEL HOARE: In principle do you support drug testing among rank and file police?

PAUL MULLETT: Well, we've got to see how the 12-month pilot goes.

DANIEL HOARE: But it seems to operate effectively in other States. Does that help shape your view at all?

DANIEL HOARE: So you're suggesting that you won't accept random testing until a 12-month pilot has been in place?

PAUL MULLETT: Well, that's what the agreement was.

DANIEL HOARE: Are you prepared to negotiate on that agreement again? To sit down again and discuss it once more?

PAUL MULLETT: It's not our fault. Go and ask the Chief Commissioner all those questions. It's not our fault. We didn't sit on our hands. The Victoria Police Force did. We negotiated a, she could've potentially had random and targeted testing back in 2003 but didn't seek the relevant legislative change.

DANIEL HOARE: How important is it that, given police are carrying guns, they have enormous responsibility, that they aren't under the influence of either drugs or alcohol on the job?

PAUL MULLETT: We've agreed back in 2002 to critical incident testing. That's where police use firearms.

DANIEL HOARE: AM contacted Victoria's Chief Police Commissioner Christine Nixon as well as the State's Police Minister Bob Cameron, but neither were available for comment.